Rwanda will lead the Group of 77 and China, a group of developing countries at the United Nations, in 2027 after taking over the chair from Uruguay.
Foreign Affairs Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe formally accepted the chairmanship on Friday, September 25, during the 50th annual meeting of G77 ministers in New York.
The G77 and China brings together 134 countries, including 133 member countries and China. The group gives developing countries a platform to work together and raise common concerns on issues such as development and international economic cooperation.
Nduhungirehe thanked the current president of the group and African countries for supporting Rwanda to take up the leadership in 2027.
Rwanda was among the countries that helped establish the G77 in Geneva in 1964. Nduhungirehe said the country had continued to support the group’s goals, especially cooperation among developing countries.
“Through the cooperation that has marked this group, I assure you that the Government of Rwanda will carry out its responsibilities with integrity, pride and dignity, in line with the trust placed in it by the member states of G77 and China,” he said.
Nduhungirehe said Rwanda understood the difficulties developing countries face as they work to improve their economies and living conditions, particularly during difficult global times.
He said Rwanda would work closely with the member countries, the G77 secretariat and its partners during its one-year term.
“Despite these challenging times, we are committed to work very closely with all delegations and our small but efficient G77 Secretariat, as well as with our partners,” he said.
Nduhungirehe also thanked Uruguay for its leadership of the group in 2026, saying it had helped move forward discussions on international economic cooperation and cooperation among developing countries.
Rwanda’s chairmanship will run for one year in 2027. The country says it will use the period to follow up on the needs and interests of developing countries and support their common positions in international meetings and institutions.
